Department of Infrastructure
145 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 311.0%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure reveal an authority that is selectively transparent, often prioritizing commercial confidentiality and administrative convenience over public scrutiny. A recurring theme is the 'black box' nature of major transport procurement; while the Department readily discloses the existence of projects like the Douglas Promenade or the purchase of Mercedes buses, it consistently withholds specific financial figures, citing commercial sensitivity (Cases 355921, 361167). Furthermore, the Department frequently relies on the 'information not held' exemption to avoid answering questions about specific costs for major events like the TT (Case 355883) or historical road adoptions (Case 355761), suggesting significant gaps in data retention and financial granularity.
Key Cases
Case 355857 — This case marks a critical turning point where the Department invoked the 'vexatious' exemption to block a series of requests regarding the Douglas Promenade and steam locomotives. It highlights the tension between persistent public scrutiny and the administrative burden, effectively shutting down a line of inquiry that had previously yielded partial results.
Case 355921 — A significant disclosure regarding the procurement of Mercedes buses, where the Department explicitly cited commercial sensitivity to withhold pricing and contract details. This case exemplifies the 'black box' nature of major transport spending, where the public knows buses were bought but not the specific financial terms.
Case 449033 — This case is notable for being 'Upheld - partial' following an internal review. The Information Commissioner found the Department had incorrectly applied a 'not held' exemption to the ZipTrip app costs, forcing a re-processing. It serves as a rare instance of the Department's initial refusal being challenged and corrected, revealing hidden financial data.
Case 355883 — The refusal to provide specific costs for TT (Tourist Trophy) road repairs, claiming they are not recorded separately from normal activities. Given the TT is the island's most significant economic event, the inability to isolate its infrastructure costs raises questions about financial accountability for major events.
Case 358461 — The complete withholding of information regarding a 2013 electric shock incident on the Manx Electric Railway due to 'ongoing legal proceedings.' This case underscores how legal risk is used as a blanket exemption to prevent the public from understanding the safety history of heritage transport.
Related FOI Stories
The Douglas Promenade: From Transparency to Vexatious Refusal — #355795, #355857, #355859, #355861, #355863
Commercial Secrecy in Transport Procurement — #355763, #355921, #361167, #355893, #356129
Data Gaps and 'Not Held' Defenses — #355761, #355773, #355883, #355895, #361191
Safety Incidents and Legal Exemptions — #358443, #358461, #355863, #355921, #548540
Housing and Social Welfare Opacity — #355805, #358449, #358451, #355925, #647165
All (145)
All information sent (451) ·
Some information sent but not all held (145) ·
Information not held (123) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (120) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (53) ·
Not required to fulfill request (22) ·
Not upheld (12) ·
Upheld - partial (10) ·
Vexatious request (6) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (5) ·
Withdrawn (3) ·
Upheld - full (1) ·
Neither confirm or deny information held (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-12 | Ecological impact | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-04-25 | Dredging of the Peel Marina | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-04-11 | Implementation of fixed penalty notices, Nobles Hospital car park | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-03-30 | 2022/23 Rail Passenger Data | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-03-23 | Diesel loco mileage and future | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-03-10 | Theory test | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-02-08 | New Year's Eve Train | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-01-24 | Isle of Man Driving Licence Figures | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-01-19 | external legal support open data | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-01-19 | Castletown Beach | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-12-20 | Number of Automatic and Manual drivers | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-12-05 | Public Sector Housing | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-11-28 | Manx Electric Railway - Laxey/Ramsey Section - Expenditure | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-11-09 | Railway Data 2022 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-09-21 | Unpaid fixed penalties | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-09-20 | Local authority rent increases | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked about the legality and Tynwald approval of local authority rent increases and five-year tenancy agreements. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed the legal basis for these practices but stated that social housing rent charges do not require Tynwald approval. | ||
| 2022-08-10 | Request for information on driver shortages | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding driver shortages, sick leave statistics, and bus tracking capabilities. The authority disclosed information on bus tracking systems but redirected the requester to the Cabinet Office for employee absence and recruitment data. | ||
| 2022-07-14 | Locomotive 16/Mannin | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for the costs, schedule, and budget regarding the restoration of Steam Locomotive 16/Mannin. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total spend to date but confirmed the Spring 2023 return date was unlikely and stated that remaining costs and the full budget were not yet available. | ||
| 2022-06-29 | Cancelled or rescheduled flights on/off the Island | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on cancelled and rescheduled flights to/from the Isle of Man between May and June 2022, broken down by airline and cause. The Department of Infrastructure provided cancellation figures by airline but stated it does not hold data on rescheduled flights or specific reasons for cancellations related to operating hours. | ||
| 2022-06-14 | Buses TT | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought a list of bus cancellations during the TT fortnight (excluding race closures) and communications regarding the decision to stop publishing delay updates on Facebook. The Department of Infrastructure provided a detailed table of cancellations by date and route but withheld the specific internal communications, citing the fluid nature of operations and the risk of providing incorrect information. | ||
| 2022-05-19 | Parking Offences - Loch Promenade - 02/04/2022 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number of parking tickets issued on Loch Promenade on 2nd April 2022, a breakdown of offences, and appeal statistics. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 32 tickets were issued for a specific offence and that 2 were successfully appealed, but stated they do not hold data on appeals broken down by offence type. | ||
| 2022-05-11 | Liverpool Landing Stage | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on annual fees, payment history, and cost projections for the Isle of Man's lease of Princes Half-Tide Dock in Liverpool. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the ground rent, lease term, total payments made, and specific service charges, but stated that estimated life-term costs were not held. | ||
| 2022-04-29 | Communications regarding Loch Promenade Tramway Tracks | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for communications between the Department of Infrastructure and Sleepwell Hotels regarding the reinstatement of Horse Tramway tracks from 2016 to 2022. The authority responded that no specific communications on this topic exist, though they provided a newsletter update on the broader Douglas Promenade Refurbishment scheme. | ||
| 2022-04-26 | Blue roll and nitrile gloves | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked about upcoming tender reopenings for blue roll and disposable gloves for the Department of Infrastructure and other departments. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed its current contract for these items expires on 31 December 2022 but stated it does not hold information regarding other departments. | ||
| 2022-04-19 | First time buyer list | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request regarding First Time Buyer lists, disclosing total registration numbers, purchase statistics for houses and bungalows since 2018, and data on applicants with children. The authority confirmed it does not hold specific data on how many applicants are waiting exclusively for houses. | ||
| 2022-03-23 | Provision of Electricity to the Manx Electric Railway | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought electricity costs and usage for the Manx Electric Railway from 2016 to 2021, along with details on the charging agreement with Manx Utilities Authority. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed data only from August 2018 to March 2022, noting that records for 2016 and 2017 were not held, and confirmed the railway pays standard industrial tariffs. | ||
| 2022-02-14 | Railway Inspectorate Horse Tramway Reports | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for Railway Inspectorate reports on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, specifically regarding pointwork issues mentioned by Minister Crookall. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no such reports exist and could not find the referenced ministerial statement, though they provided some email correspondence on the matter. | ||
| 2022-01-26 | Resident Permit Douglas Merton Bank to Tynwald Str & Estimated Parking | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for detailed monthly parking permit statistics and space classifications for specific streets in Douglas, but the Department of Infrastructure could only provide limited data because permits are recorded by zone rather than by individual street. | ||
| 2022-01-05 | Properties | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought a list of government-owned buildings sublet to businesses and their yearly income. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed a partial list of properties managed by its Commercial Team and the total annual rental income, noting that some requested information was not held. | ||
| 2021-12-07 | Number of electric cars registered | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for annual electric car registration figures for the Isle of Man between 2016 and 2021, but the Department of Infrastructure could not provide data in that specific format due to recording limitations. Instead, the authority disclosed the total number of registered electric vehicles as of December 2021 and provided a link to a graph showing data from July 2019 onwards. | ||
| 2021-11-04 | Coal | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the weight of coal delivered or used by the Department of Infrastructure for the Steam Railway between 2016 and 2021. The Department disclosed usage figures for 2019, 2020, and 2021 but confirmed that data for 2016-2018 was not recorded by volume. | ||
| 2021-11-01 | Hourly operational cost of sea terminal | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for the hourly operational cost of the Isle of Man Sea Terminal when open versus closed was partially fulfilled, as the Department of Infrastructure stated the data is not recorded in a format allowing for hourly breakdowns. The authority provided total annual costs for security, energy, maintenance, and cleaning for the 2020/21 financial year instead. | ||
| 2021-10-15 | Active Travel Plan Expenditure | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for expenditure records, promotional activity details, and active travel statistics for the Isle of Man's Active Travel Plan. The Department of Infrastructure responded that some information was sent, but not all requested data was held. | ||
| 2021-09-24 | disabled (blue badge holders ) drivers | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on disabled drivers retaking tests, the rationale for three-year license validity, and authority for license suspensions without court orders. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing a general guide to applying for driving licenses rather than the specific statistical data or policy explanations requested. | ||
| 2021-07-26 | Policy regarding planning permission for works in Conservation areas | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding planning permissions and decision-making processes for road works in Kirk Michael's conservation area. The authority responded with some information but confirmed that not all requested documents were held. | ||
| 2021-07-20 | Social Housing Provision & Occupancy Rates - Southern Areas | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought detailed statistics on social housing provision, occupancy, and allocation points for southern Isle of Man areas from 2016 to 2021. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold data broken down by the specific areas requested, but provided figures by local authority operator and noted that sheltered housing data post-2019 is aggregated under the Southern Sheltered Housing Joint Board. | ||
| 2021-07-20 | Supplemental to Request 1912569 on 20/7/2020 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought average waiting list numbers and applicant breakdowns for general needs public sector housing in five specific Isle of Man areas over five years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that data for Arbory and Rushen showed no applications from their commissioners, while providing detailed tables for Castletown, Port Erin, Port St Mary, and the Department itself, noting a lack of household type breakdown for Castletown in 2018-19. | ||
| 2021-07-20 | Vehicle Driving Tests | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of car driving tests by specific engine and transmission types over the last 12 months. The Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not record vehicle make, model, or engine type, but provided figures for manual and automatic transmission tests only. | ||
| 2021-07-19 | Driving Test results Isle of Man - 10 years data | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for 10 years of Isle of Man driving test results broken down by age, gender, test number, result, and date/time was partially fulfilled by the Department of Infrastructure. The authority provided aggregated statistical data for the financial years 2018/2019 through 2021/2022 but did not hold or release the specific date and time details for every individual test requested. | ||
| 2021-07-07 | Wildlife control | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on wildlife control methods, kill counts, and nest destruction at Manx Care and DOI premises since 2016. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the specific methods used for health and safety reasons but stated it does not record the requested statistical data on numbers of animals killed or nests destroyed. | ||
| 2021-06-30 | Planning application 20/01215/B | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for officer notebooks, phone notes, and diary entries regarding planning application 20/01215/B for Ballavarvane Farm, resulting in the disclosure of email correspondence concerning highway safety and access design, though not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2021-06-24 | Number of Vehicle Collisions along Braid Road, St Marks | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for vehicle collision data along Braid Road, St Marks from 2010 to the present, but the Department of Infrastructure could only provide data from January 2015 onwards due to lack of earlier records. The authority disclosed 13 personal injury collisions occurring between 2015 and the date of response, with locations detailed in two appendices. | ||
| 2021-06-23 | Vehicle numbers | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for the number of private vehicles registered on the Isle of Man in specific years from 1970 to 2020. The Department of Infrastructure responded that some information was sent, but not all requested data was held. | ||
| 2021-06-22 | Roundels - Legal Basis | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for evidence of UK usage of 'roundels' as traffic calming measures and queried the legal classification of the Douglas Prom junction. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing design sources and clarifying that the junction is legally a non-priority junction, not a roundabout, governed by the Manx Highway Code. | ||
| 2021-06-21 | First Time Buyers Scheme - successful applicants since 2014 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for annual statistics on successful First Time Buyers Scheme applicants since 2014 and comparisons with the pre-2014 House Purchase Assistance Scheme. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold data on individual applicants but provided figures for assisted purchases across various schemes from 1999 to 2021. | ||
| 2021-06-15 | Broadway Roundel | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a risk assessment and legal references for the Broadway 'Roundel', but the Department of Infrastructure disclosed that no written risk assessment exists as it is not required for this non-priority junction. The authority provided relevant sections of the Manx Highway Code and cited the Highways Act 1986 and Road Traffic Acts as the governing regulations. | ||
| 2021-05-20 | HGV Commercial and Non Commercial and RTLC | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought HGV registration and licensing statistics, fee income, and RTLC operational costs and headcount for the Isle of Man between 2018 and 2021. The Department of Infrastructure provided vehicle data but withheld RTLC-specific information because the RTLC is a separate entity under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2020-12-14 | Reports of damp in public sector housing | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number of damp reports in public sector housing over the past five years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed data only for the current financial year, citing the inability to manually compile historical records without substantial effort. | ||
| 2020-10-16 | DOI Expenditure for Past 3 Years | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a detailed breakdown of Department of Infrastructure accounts for 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19, including spending on consultants and Bus Vannin. The authority provided expenditure tables for 2016-17 and 2017-18 but noted that not all requested information was held, with the 2018-19 data appearing incomplete in the response. | ||
| 2020-09-28 | Vignole - The Diesel | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on maintenance costs, warranty work, and the operational status of diesel locomotive 21 'Vignoles'. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed specific repair costs and warranty details but withheld the value of the bogie repair contract citing commercial sensitivity. | ||
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